Caring for Surgical Patients With Piercings

Step-by-Step Guide to the Punch Removal Technique for Dermal Piercing: A Surgical Pearl

While dermal piercings have become increasingly popular, there is limited dermatologic literature detailing a standard removal technique. Dermal piercings are often removed in the emergency department using non-serrated hemostats and a rocking motion until the anchor can be pulled through the skin. Removal by these means may lead to unnecessary damage to the skin, infections, and scarring. This article describes a straightforward technique for extracting dermal piercings that does not require the patient to know the size or type of dermal anchor. A detailed description, with corresponding images, is provided as a step-by-step guide on implementing a punch removal technique for dermal piercings. Dermatologists can implement this technique to remove piercings without knowing the underlying anchor type. This punch removal technique offers a solution for removing a variety of dermal piercings and subsequent scar tissue while minimizing scar formation and leaving patients with more cosmetically appealing skin.